Signs on state highways soon could be in French

BATON ROUGE – Directional signs on state highways soon could be in French, as well as English.

The House committee handling transportation matters approved Rep. Stephen Ortego’s HB898, which would authorize the Department of Transportation and Development to install bilingual signs if local governments want them.

Shawn Wilson, chief of staff for DOTD, said his department would have to apply for federal approval to have a supplemental provision in the manual used for operations. But even if that’s rejected, the signs could be replaced when existing ones wear out under current policy.

DOTD currently puts some guide signs in French, like Vieux Carre in New Orleans, as logos.

Ortego said some communities already have made the change. For example, Erath has stop signs in French.

Rep. Terry Landry, D-Lafayette, said he has problems with a bill that allows only French because Louisiana has a rapidly growing Spanish-speaking population.

Ortego said it’s because of Louisiana’s French heritage and preservation of the Cajun culture.